The Super 5 women’s league season concludes this week and CCFC have again collected trophies!
Huge congratulations to our latest squad the mighty Clapton Belters (pictured above), managed by Julie and captained by Sin.
This was the last season the Belters will be supported by Clapton, as they make way for another set of players for next season.
It ended with Belters glory and three trophies (one of which is too big to fit on the Old Spotted Dog trophy shelf!)
They not only won promotion again but it has been back to back since joining in the beginners division.
Also our Jalina took the Super 5 Golden Glove and Ciara the Golden Boot.
The whole squad have been out and out champions both on and off the pitch since joining our Saturday morning women and non binary Open Access sessions.
Some Belters have already developed so much they are playing with the women’s development team and continue to progress under the guidance of our women’s first team and development team set up.
Huge congratulations also go to DalsTon WFC.
Although no longer officially affiliated with CCFC, they are formed from the first five-a-side team launched from the Open Access sessions in June 2021 with Allana, Lauren, Rhianne, Sinéad and Jalina all now progressing through the CCFC Women’s set up from Open Access to the development and first teams.
DalsTon have skipped through the Super 5 divisions, also winning consecutive promotions and quietly balling their way to Super 5 domination.
They dominated Division 1 this season winning promotion to the Premier division.
Huge congratulations go to Teju for the golden boot and to Jalina for another Golden Glove award. Two Golden Gloves in one season, what a keeper!
Clapton Belters are the fifth Super 5 league team to come out of CCFC Open Access sessions.
Currently teams playing in the Super 5 league connected or ‘birthed’ by CCFC Open Access include The Bangers, Collective Joy, Hot Flush, The Belters and of course the OGs, DalsTon WFC. So many great players and people.
Open Access is a way back into the beautiful game for women and non-binary people who have been marginalised or just a way in for those who sadly never got to play growing up because well the patriarchy.
At Open Access the focus is on enjoying the game, developing skills and celebrating the moments.
Once players start to develop confidence they are often super keen to take opportunities to play competitively in the Super 5 league and/or to progress through the women’s set up as many do playing at all levels across our club.
To help develop players’ skills and technique we form five-a-side squads then drop them in the league, support them for a season or so, and then they go independent and self-fund their team, and we support the next batch.
There seems to be no shortage of women who given the opportunity to play the beautiful game will most definitely take it and will go all in with it. It is a joy to witness it.
The next team to come out of Open Access will debut in the Super 5 league in January and have yet to decide a name so will remain known as CCFC Beginners for now.
The team will be coached on Saturday mornings by Ellie and Julie as usual but we are very lucky to have a new five-a-side coach to introduce who will be managing this team, the legend that is Haze.
Haze has been involved in Open Access for a while now playing for Hot Flush and in our 11-a-side friendly games.
She plays in goal and on the wing and spent 3 years at West Ham skills academy before injury. She is both a PE teacher of ten years and an FA level 2 qualified coach.
The players will no doubt flourish with her guidance and encouragement. Huge thanks to Haze for giving her knowledge and her time to this.
It is uplifting to see CCFC make space and be a club (sadly in a minority) that recognises and responds to the legacy of the women’s football ban and of women’s continuing exclusion and discrimination in the world and in football.
CCFC provides a space to right those wrongs a bit for our little corner of East London almost every Saturday morning with Open Access and of course with the first teams and development teams.
Open Access is a space for football for women of all ages and all abilities to play and learn the beautiful game.
That is massive. The impact has been huge. Friendships blossomed, communities supported, and many many games and tournaments played. So many new members supporters and volunteers and most importantly many glorious moments shared.
This Saturday will be our last open access session before the the New Year. We had been very much looking forward to supporting the men’s first team at Stonewall after our training session but that game has now been postponed.
One club, many teams, so much glory! We are going to need a bigger trophy shelf!
If you would like to get involved in open access as a player or as a coach please get in touch. We are particularly keen to help develop women coaches. elliesmellie36@gmail.com